Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Living in the Miraculous Pt.9

All the utterances that came forth this evening are very pertinent to this hour. We are to decrease, that He might increase. Amen? We're living in a society in which it's all about self increasing: the "I" generation. We've seen the need to realize that our great strength is going to manifest only when we understand our need, our weakness, and His strength is perfected in that [weakness]. We can't trust in the arm of the flesh; it was man's arm that drew the sword as Peter cut off the servant's ear. There's only one sword that's going to be effective in this day we live in, that's the sword of the spirit, praise God: the Word. Are you full of that power and that weapon this evening, or are you really leaning on the world's wisdom, a little more taken up with whether you have sufficient investments for the days that are coming? I'm going to tell you something: You can't lay up enough for the days that are coming. Are you concerned about the different health programs? There's nothing that's going to sustain you in the hour that's coming but the grace of God, the power of God. This is what the Spirit's been speaking to us in this last number of weeks. It's a stirring of His church, a preparation, for the day of the Lord is at hand; praise God!

Before that great and terrible day of the Lord, the Scripture says, there are going to be birth pangs. That's what we're going to experience; we're not going to be here for the Day of the Lord. We're going to be caught out, but there are going to be the birth pangs we endure as a people. I believe we're going to see the coming of the Lord, so we need to prepare ourselves. That's why we're taking this time to go back through the book of Acts and realize--I've had a couple of people come and say, "You know, it's been such a blessing to see that there wasn't a first century church and a twenty-first-century church. We knew it intellectually, but it's becoming real."--there's only one church, praise God, and we're a part of it. Amen? Living stones, the Scripture says; He's building a church with living stones. The interesting thing about stonemasonry is that it's not like bricklaying. Laying stone isn't like laying brick; bricks are already uniform. Have you ever watched a stonemason? He'll take that hammer and pick that stone up, and he'll look at where he's going to place it, and he'll hold that stone and take a few whacks, and chip that thing, and knock this off. There it goes: it's beautiful. I love to watch stone being laid. How many of you know there are a few corners that still need to be knocked off? Amen? He's holding us in His hand, and He's looking at us and saying, "Do you really want me to strike you?" We must decrease that He might increase. Are you ready for that thing to be taken off? He'll give the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32). Are you ready to have some things lopped off?

It's interesting: just before I came in here I was reading through one of the little booklets I was telling you about [concerning] Sister Hooke; I was reading a few of these stories. We got a book I didn't even know existed, another book on her life story. She was talking about when she was filled with the Holy Spirit; she said for two years she'd been seeking the Lord. She'd actually wandered into a Pentecostal church and thought, "I've got to get out of here!" Then she saw the reality of the power and the worship, and she said, "I need what they have." She stayed, and the man shared the baptism of the Holy Ghost with her, and for two years she sought the Lord to fill her with the Holy Spirit. In her testimony she was saying, "But Lord, what is it?" She said she felt the Lord spoke to her. This will sound humorous to you, but she said, "There were still idols in my life that I was holding. The one last idol I had was my Salvation Army bonnet." Here's this little Scottish girl, saved in the Salvation Army; [the idol was] the identity with other than what God had for her: the walk in the supernatural. Some of us are holding onto many things we might not even be aware of. I would encourage those who are seeking the infilling of the Holy Spirit to just ask the Lord: "Reveal to me whatever it is in my life that needs to be dealt with." If there's something there--if there's pride, if there's unforgiveness, if there's covetousness, whatever it might be--He will give the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him.

We were sharing in our last session that the power of God is going to be evident to those who are being used of God. Put yourself in a position where God needs to visit you. We've been talking about these different principles in this last couple of sessions. We saw they were of one heart and one soul, and the power of God was manifesting, and no man said anything he possessed was his own. We've talked about that spirit of one accord, and how Father is bringing us to that [unity]. We talked about the need to protect ourselves from being overly involved in one another's lives to [the point] where that's why we're here, instead of [to seek] the presence of God. I think that's something we need to guard ourselves against because, He said, you cannot love Me more than mothers and fathers and houses and lands. Our commitment, then, is to His lordship, to the vision that's before us, to be a part of that church which is full of the power of God, and become mighty witnesses to Him in our declaration, in our daily living, and in our faith. That's where it gets to be a little difficult, when we're talking about walking this thing out on a practical plane, when we need to serve one another and humble ourselves, when we need to humble ourselves and bring reproof, correction or instruction, when we need to prefer others, when we need to stand in faith (instead of taking the easy way out) and believe God for a miracle, when we need to boldly proclaim this gospel message when it could cost us something (like Daniel and some of the other examples we've looked at). We're the church: we're no different. We're the light of the world; we're epistles being read of men. What's your story? You're life is a story. What is your story? When people look at you, what are you telling them, in your daily activity, about Jesus? Are we a people that are walking in power, authority, confidence, and the knowledge of God as to where He's taking us? Are we a people that are not surprised by the headlines? We know where this world's going.

We've been studying these different aspects and in the process we came to the visitation of God, the miracle at Gate Beautiful, the persecution that came, their rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name's sake; then we saw that God did a great thing in their midst. When [the scriptures spoke of] their commonness--let's go back to [Acts,] Chapter 5. We're going to spend a [little time] in review, then pick up where we left off Sunday night. We saw a very interesting thing in Chapter 5 with Ananias and Sapphira; I want to reemphasize that because, as a people that is called to have all things common, it's not just speaking about the material things. Those were addressed; there was a need in the church at that time, and it was met. We saw that the way it was met, in biblical order, was that those who had possessions, when the Spirit of God would speak to them (and you'll notice it didn't say everybody liquidated everything, but those that had possessions as God moved on them), would liquidate some asset, and they would come and lay [the money] at the apostles' feet, and the apostles would distribute it as necessary. It's not: "I feel led to give this to this brother" or "I feel led to give this to that brother." It's communion, commonness: koinonia. We saw Ananias and Sapphira wanting to be counted among the faithful. They didn't want to be seen as not totally committed, so we know the story they made up, fabricated, to keep back part of [the money]. Peter's response was: "[How is it that] Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost." It wasn't the money; it was trying to [portray] an image that wasn't real, to present themselves as something they were not.

We're living here as a people with a commitment. We have requirements to get into our home fellowship groups and into membership here, and we don't say everybody has to be a part of that. We welcome people to come into these general services just like we're meeting here, to come in and hear the Word of God. We're not telling them they're required to give any money. We're not telling them they're required to attend any services. What we are saying is that those of us who are of one heart and one soul make this commitment: that nothing we have do we call our own, talking about our lives, and we are committed to producing a godly seed, being those living stones placed in a way that would build a temple of worship where God's name is placed, something sacred, set apart, not in any way defiled by human wisdom, human methods, or human hands, but a people trying to live purely by the Word of God. When we make that commitment, there are certain things it takes to follow that vision. As we've established that; as God has called us and set us to order the paths of this fellowship and the different things we've set up, we've said, "This is what we need to do to accomplish that goal, that vision." We've shared with some in the past, "Just, at least, say, 'I'm not a part,' but don't come to be seen as something you're not. If your hearts not in it, don't do it! You'll be welcome, and people will still talk to you, and people will still pray for you, and you'll still be included in the fun and games, possibly." Some of us are putting themselves off as something they're not to the place of endangering themselves by eating and drinking unworthily. I just want to encourage some of you, and I want to warn some of you, that these things will not be taken lightly as God continues to move in our midst and purifies His church.

What are we talking about? We're talking about heart motives. We're talking, not about warring the flesh, because the spirit is willing and the flesh is [what?]--weak. We're not saying you're going to say, "Oh, boy! I get to sacrifice and really lay my life [down]." We're not talking about that. There are going to be times in which you just have to grab the old flesh and drag him up here, and flop him down in prayer; but you're not doing it to be seen, you're not doing it to meet the quota; you're doing it because you're obeying God. You're doing it because you know it's where you need to be: it's where God's called you. We want to encourage you in that. I felt impressed to go back and speak toward that spirit because it's very important, as we press in, that you know why you are [pressing in]. Are you doing it because you want to? Are you doing it because you believe God? Or are you doing it because you want to stay in favor with certain people; you want to uphold an image? Those are the things that have to die.

As Ananias and Sapphira were judged of God, we saw that the Scripture says, "[Those] of that same type of people no longer joined themselves to them." Then God began to move in their midst in great power, and verses 12 through 16 say that miracles began to manifest: "And [true] believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. [The anointing was so great] that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them [so they'd be healed]." How many of you would like that anointing in your life? I believe, when we get serious like these folks were, we're going to see that power and that presence of God. We're already seeing it!

Let me encourage you in something. I sensed in my spirit this word for us tonight, but I didn't speak it as an utterance; I was just waiting on God to hear, from His perspective, the timing; but I want to share something with you that came up in my spirit as we were worshiping the Lord. Some of us are still sitting here saying, "Lord, we're praying and believing." God's moving! It might not have happened in the way you think it should happen, but I want to tell you something: our prayers are being answered, God's moving in our midst! We're seeing it in the lives of the young people being filled; others of you have been filled; people's lives are being challenged; there's a redirection of many schedules; there are a lot of things taking place right now in our lives. We're seeing it in couples being brought together. We've seen it in some of the marriages. We've seen it in the prevention of some marriages. God's moving!

As I'm talking about marriages, let me share one other thing as I'm talking about one accord, also. I want to tell you something: If you're interested in any of the young people here, you'd better have one requirement, and one alone. It's not tall, dark and handsome; there are a few of them left. (I won't mention any names; I've been paid a lot of money, but I'm still not going to mention any names.) There was a young person the other day to whom I sent one of the deacons back. I said, "Go back and ask that man what he sees in that girl that matches up to Proverbs 31? Ask that young man this question: "What makes you think you can oversee a household? What in you--what fruit is there to indicate that you would be the head of the house, and not be run over by that woman in the first week?" It's not about personalities; it's not about looks. It's about fulfilling a call on our lives. It's about coming together to fulfill a vision that's before us as a people. We've had people ask about dating; we've had questions about engagements. "Shouldn't we have a long engagement?" What for? What do you need an engagement for? I want to tell you something: You don't need to know whether they take one lump or two, their favorite color, or what fragrance they prefer in perfume. Do you want to know what you need to know: Are they full of the Holy Ghost? This is what you see in ten years of watching people growing up: You know who's pursuing God! It's not about all these temporal things; it's about people who are after one common vision: to make the other person more like Jesus and get them to heaven! That's what it's all about. If you're going to hook up with somebody who's going to make you better and get you to heaven, none of that other stuff matters. I want to tell you something: If you both have a heart to do the will of God, if you both have a heart to lay your life down and prefer the other person, one lump or two doesn't matter. That's all of that secular thought process, which just needs to be thrown out. It's meaningless; it means nothing in the kingdom.

We might talk about it in more detail later. We're so secularized, but we don't believe it about ourselves. We have the right doctrine, but the minute we try to put it to the ground all this secular emphasis comes in. If God's going to move in our midst without any restraints, then we're going to have to let it happen in the practical, daily activities, in the things we really treasure in our lives, and in a readiness to hear and lay down our own will. One heart, one soul, one spirit, one will: that's what these people were after. They had one desire: to be used more of God. Our desire as a fellowship here is to not only be used of God, but to prepare a generation, should Jesus tarry, that's going to be greater than ours. Oh, every day I fight the secularism in my own mind! Every day I have to fight all the family traditions and all the things I was involved in and was taught as a young person. I didn't have the privilege of being reared like my children and my grandchildren, knowing nothing but the Word of God. What a blessing that is! Do you want to know what one of the problems is? My generation, us, is getting in the way of our kids, and we're still introducing our secular preferences. I don't know why I'm off [over] here. Anyway, I want to tell you something as it pertains to education, as it pertains to values in life, to so many of our values from the secular perspective, our values as it pertains to image, and our possessions. Many of our generation were the dropouts, the drug addicts, rebelling against material things. Now look at us! What am I saying to you? Parents, back off and let the Holy Ghost lead your kids' lives! Say, "Amen" or "Oh, me." God's going to speak to your kids; He's going to call them places that'll scare the tar out of you. Keep your hands off and trust God! If you can't trust God, let them trust God. Because so many of us in this generation haven't been willing to make those commitments, we are trying to raise up a generation that'll be totally sold out for God, then won't let them sell out. Ananias and Sapphira: "Yes! Amen! Preach it! Oh, yes! I'm totally sold out, totally committed, except when it comes to my little group, my wish, my vision, my investment, or my choice." As the spirit of God moves in our midst without restraint, it will be orderly, it will be biblical, but it's going to be beyond you. You look at these people's lives: we read, but we're not there. We see what they did, but you've got to read between the lines. You've got to look at them sweating bullets just like you would be. They're weeping and crying just like you'd be, but they're obeying God. Amen? Don't divorce yourself from these people. These people are flesh and blood. You've got to read between the lines. They were men of like passion, just like you and I, but willing to suffer for His name's sake, counting it all joy that they were beaten and separated from their families as they identified with the name of Jesus. That's the church; that's who we're a part of; that's who we are, counting it a privilege.

We read on in this fifth chapter: Ananias and Sapphira were judged; the power of God began to manifest; healings were taking place; the Sanhedrin called them in and reproved them, rebuked them and then beat them; they went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy. They said in verse 32, "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them." Gamaliel gives them the vision: "If it's of God, don't fight against it. If it's not, don't worry about it; it'll pass away." [The Sanhedrin] brought them in and beat them, and they went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy, "and daily in the temple [verse 42], and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." They begin to grow, and we got into the ministry of the deacon on Sunday night. We talked about that ministry, how important it is in our midst, and what their role is: to represent the people to the leadership, and leadership to the people. We went over, very specifically, from Moses through all the different orders, how God set this in place so that no one would go without their needs being met.

We shared that, if your needs are being met, it's your fault: all the structure is in place. Don't talk to your friends: talk to somebody who can do something about it. As you share with a captain or a deacon, it'll go into the right channels, the Word of God will be looked into, a judgment will be made, it'll be just, and your needs will be met. The one thing we can't have, whether you look at it through the Scripture in the Old Testament or in the New Testament: there can't be murmuring. There can't be: "Well, you know; nobody really understands me, and nobody cares, and this isn't fair and..." That is not the environment the Holy Ghost moves in. He moves in light; He moves in order; He moves in truth. As we're looking for the power of God, we have to continue to establish and work within those parameters. God set up these offices, and He set up men who the Scripture says were men full of the Holy Ghost. The deacons were to be used in power and authority, men full of faith and the Holy Ghost. The two deacons we want to emphasize are very spectacular [because of] what God did in their lives; but let's not minimize the other five, whose names we don't even remember, and some can't even pronounce if they remember them, who faithfully met the needs of every person in that church. Isn't that cool? We don't even know them, but we're here because of them; the church was sustained, the needs met. There were a couple of men who stand out to us: of course, Stephen being primary. One of the things I want to emphasize to us tonight, one of key points I want to get across to us this evening: In the life of Stephen we learn one great truth. Here's a man the Bible clearly says was a man full of faith, he was a man who moved in mighty power, and he was a man who died--martyred, not delivered, no fairy tale ending--in the will of God.

Many of us are entering into a time [of trial]. We've got to do away with the fairy-tale-ending faith, because if you don't, your faith is going to be shaken. If you don't understand the sovereignty of God and the wisdom of God and how real faith works, your faith can be shaken. Now, who were these deacons? We see in Chapter 6, verse 3: "Wherefore brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report..." We talked about the requirements of a deacon, what their character was supposed to be: they were to be of honest report; they were not to be double-tongued, saying one thing to the people another thing to the leadership; they couldn't have respect of persons, having favorites; they couldn't have their own personal agendas; they couldn't be people who were covetous; they couldn't be people who sought vain glory, but true servants, agenda free, one thing burning in them: to fulfill their place in the body of Christ. If you stop and think about it, it's really a tough job. It's like the wife; now, is that a tough job? All the ladies said: [amen]. You've got a tough job! You've got to do the work, but you can't make the final decisions. What a bummer! God's good. That's why He made you women. ("Hear us roar.") No, women, you're created in those roles; you're created for that. The men who fulfill these roles the best are people who are supernaturally called, gifted, and graced for that task, enabled by God, powerful; moving in faith, but given grace to know their role of subordination to fulfill the vision of those ministry gifts God has placed over them: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. People who are willing to pour their lives out for the flock, for the rest of us here, sometimes receiving thanks and other times not, but it's being done as unto the Lord. The real men of God aren't serving you because you're you; they're serving you because you belong to Jesus. They're serving you because they have a call: they've been placed.

We talked about the fact that you can't limit your relationship to being so intertwined at that level that you lose sight of what's taking place here. Those are only two cogs; the whole deal is that it's about Jesus, it's not about our little groups. It's about many cells making up one body. We talked a little bit and laughed the other night at the mentality: "My deacon's better than your deacon." If you even start to entertain that thought process, then you're in the flesh! You don't understand what this body's about. We are not groups that are separate; we are one body. It's not "Blue group," "Red group." Who's the best? There is no best; there's one. The minute you begin to say, "I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ...are ye not carnal?" (1 Corinthians 1:12, 3:4). One heart, one soul, one agenda: Jesus being formed in us. As we're walking toward this goal and the power of God is manifesting and all these gifts are operating in our midst, we have apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. We have deacons: men full of faith; men full of Holy Ghost, called and graced for this task of laying their lives down for the flock, caring for them, representing their needs, coming to rub the salve in, bringing the Word of God. All of this is taking place, and the church becomes strong. What is it that Satan then tries to do? He begins to move in, and always tries to take down the head. Kill the shepherd and the sheep scatter. The Scripture says, "Stephen [verse 8] full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people".

I was talking to a bunch of men years ago [who were] in the faith movement, and I had one of these teachers (a very well-known man). We were talking one time; I won't mention his name. He made this comment: "The problem is that Stephen just didn't have any faith." I said, "Aren't you part of the Word of Faith movement?" "Yes; the Word of God!" "The Word says he was full of faith." Now, the word full leaves room for how much lack? "Well, he was full of faith when God called him, but when it came to the place where that last rock hit him and took him out, he must not have had sufficient faith at that time." Verse 55: "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God...And he cried out with a loud voice, Lord, [forgive them] lay not this sin to their charge". My Lord! Is there any greater evidence of being full of the Holy Ghost and faith! "And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep". The audacity of somebody's simple little doctrine speaking contrary to the Word of God! I want to tell you something: You can't make those statements if you're not full of faith. You're not going to have those visions if you're not full of faith and power. What is it that creates this type of a theology, or mentality? It's fear, pride, self-will, everything but trust in the love, sovereignty, and wisdom of God. As a people, as we're coming into this hour that awaits us, we need to open our hearts to the fullness of the Spirit, because there are going to be some things that come our way that we're going to have to forgive. I wonder how difficult it was for our brothers and sisters to forgive those Roman soldiers who ripped their children from their arms and threw them to wild beasts. I wonder if there was any twinge of a spirit of retaliation. I wonder if, somewhere in their members, they wanted to get their hands on that guy's throat. I guarantee you, that temptation was there because they're flesh and blood just like you and I, but they were full of the Holy Ghost. This infilling of the Holy Spirit is a lot more than just talking in tongues. It empowers us to live beyond our own strength, to work signs and wonders in His name, to cast out devils, to heal the sick, and to be able to forgive. What a man Stephen was! Can you imagine? I don't know if I can imagine anything greater than, in the midst of this temptation, heaven opening and him seeing Jesus standing at the Father's right hand. To my knowledge it's the only time in Scripture where we see a reference to Jesus standing. Can you imagine? Jesus rises up out of His seat to look down and see Stephen, and say, "Good job. Just one more rock and you're coming home." "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." "[They], looking steadfastly on him, [verse 15, Chapter 6] saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." I want that spirit, don't you?

So, we see the power of God: what a witness! "But ye shall receive power...and ye shall be witnesses unto Me" (Acts 1:8). The same man who did signs and wonders is now taken and stoned. Could God have built a shield around Him so none of those rocks hit him? Of course He could. Has He given His angels charge over us? Yes, that we don't dash our foot against a stone (Psalm 91:11-12). Is there a hedge that can be built that Satan can't penetrate, such as around Job? (Job 1:10). There's no doubt in my mind. The same man who knew the mighty power to do signs and wonders knew when to just drop his hands, lift up His eyes, and look into heaven. Not speaking the words, but living the heart: "Not My will. Your will be done, Father, if this will bring the greatest witness to You." We're filled to become witnesses. "If this will bring the greatest witness to You, if this will be a greater witness than my speaking and every one of them being smitten with blindness like the prophet of old, [so be it]. Many times God took the enemies of His children and smote them with blindness: at the door of Lot's house (Genesis 19:11); by Elisha, the prophet (2 Kings 6:18); and by the apostle Paul (Acts 13:11). We realize that God's power manifests itself in many different ways: here in passivity, peace, forgiveness, and grace.

"Then said the high priest [concerning his witness], Are these [accusations] so?" [Stephen] gives the whole history of Israel. "When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart [verses 54], and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost...saw the glory of God." How great a witness was this: the ability to forgive, the ability to accept no deliverance and boast in it? Those who had gone on before him were delivered and boasted. They were beaten, but they were delivered, and they boasted. The prison doors were opened; the glory of God was manifested because they were delivered, and here now they're not delivered. What kind of witness is this? Chapter 8, verse 1, "And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church...and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, [he was broken and smitten, having seen Stephen's face as an angel. No,] he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women, committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere [say the next phrase with me] preaching the word." Isn't it interesting how God gets the gospel out? If everything had kept going well, they would all have hung out at home; but now they're dispersed.

I wonder what the testimony will be of those whom Chacha reached in prison. What a great letter we received from him; it's going to be on the bulletin board here shortly. You've got to read it: it'll bless you. I want to tell you something: For ten years not one person who's gone into that prison has ever been released; he's the only guy. You tell me God's not still opening prison doors today. There is nothing less spectacular about that than what you just read right here; we're living in it! Don't lose sight of what's going on in our midst. Some of the greatest strongholds on that continent have opposed us. From the time we went over there, there is no way in the natural we should even be in the country, but God opened doors no man can close. We were threatened in those cities by men who have gone in and chopped up others with their machetes; they threatened us, and God's angels knocked the wheels off their chariots. We're living there today.

Now, we're losing some of it because of all this baggage we're carrying around here in America, and all this business, and all these distractions, but I want to tell you something: God's moving in our midst, and He's not through yet. We're just starting to see what God's going to do in our midst; it's going to be exciting. Can I share with you again, some of you old people? You old people my age, you old people younger than I, but still carrying the baggage of the world. Oh, some of us are being freed; some of us are continually getting freer every day that goes by. I get freer every day; I'm carrying less baggage every day. God is sanctifying my life, but I'm so sick of where I am when I know where I could be. I just want to encourage you: Don't offend the little ones. Everything we've worked toward here for years, to renew minds, to brainwash young people, don't put your garbage in there. Let's see what God can do with a generation that doesn't have to unlearn: tender. I'm not talking about philosophical things; we talked about this practically the other day. Don't make your kids weak; don't tell them to pray, and then give them the money. Don't let them pray knowing that if it doesn't work, you're going to bail them out with your credit card. I want to tell you something: They might end up somewhere where they don't take credit cards. I don't know where that would be, but... Let's not teach our kids strength, and then make them weak. Let's not give them a doctrine of power and life of ease, comfort and weakness. It's not only in the spiritual things; it's some of the physical things. It's a lot better now, but we had parents coming to us; they would talk to Jeff and say, "My little boy: he sweat, you know; sweat fell off, and he, like, worked; and he did a push up and his muscle hurt!" [The children] come in their bubble wrap and with their silk pillows. We've tried to do away with that, and we've worked hard at it. We're still working, and we're still learning, and we change stuff. We're evolving: this is a living organism. We're evolving: we're constantly in flux, as we're learning and seeing things that need to change. I know it would be easy for all of us if we could say, "OK, here are the rules: A, B, C, D, E, F; it's going to be like that forever. Get in line." That's not how the Holy Spirit works; that's not how growth takes place. I wish I could tell you that I know everything. Most of you didn't take long to figure out I don't; but let me put it this way: I know exactly where we're going and don't have a clue how we're going to get there. Every day the Lord says, "I want you to do this." I've shared with you, and I don't literally do this, but almost. It becomes so obvious: "What should we do? What should we do?" What's everybody else doing? OK, let's do the opposite, because what everybody else is doing is most likely wrong. What's the tendency of natural man? It's to do what everybody else is doing: the herd mentality. We're a peculiar people, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a people called to show forth the praises of Him (1 Peter 2:9).

The power to be witnesses through life, through death: "They were all scattered abroad throughout the regions...except the apostles...preaching the Word." In this dispersal, Phillip went to Samaria. We're going to talk about Phillip on Sunday morning. The dynamics we were talking about allow for a progression at times. It's an exception, not the rule; but we see in this man's life a progression. It's a principle we need to apply whether or not we experience a literal increase of responsibility; but the Scripture says, "For unto everyone that hath shall [more] be given" (Matthew 25:29). In other words: The more you seek, the more you give, the more you empty yourself, the more God's going to give you. In this man's life, as he started off serving, in his faithfulness God promoted him to the office of evangelist. This is the thing I like about his life, as you read on. This is what I want to talk about more on Sunday morning about our leadership's kids and households that should be an example to the rest of you. You should be able to look at the leadership and say, "That's how I want my house to be." Now, that doesn't mean all the kids in every house are going to be doing exactly what they should be doing. I'm talking about the order; I'm talking about the pursuit; I'm talking about obedience. Phillip, the scripture says, had four daughters who prophesied. Another generation of faithfulness: that's the fruit we're looking for. It didn't die with them: [it continued] another generation. It's not going to die with us: [it will continue to] another generation greater than ours; I believe that. It's what I've invested my whole life in trying to do: to leave something greater behind.

It's a very difficult thing when everything else besides the kingdom of God is under the power of the second law of thermodynamics: the order of God Himself. God established that law; man discovered it. Man didn't make up the second law of thermodynamics; God spoke that. As everything else around us is deteriorating (if you don't believe it, look in the mirror), the church is being renewed: stronger and stronger and stronger. It's stronger than in the first century? Yes. I believe that because now we don't have only a people that is full of the Holy Ghost, we have a people that is full of the Word of God. We have order and we power, and nothing should be impossible to us.

Father, we thank You for the Word of God and the call that's on our lives. We live in the midst of major doctrines that would promote the hands-off approach of extreme Calvinism, or a messiah-complex approach such as the faith movement. In the midst of this we just ask to be a simple people, obedient to the Word of God. We don't have to have all the answers; we don't need a claim; we want just to hear well done. We want to leave behind us a seed undefiled, sacred, set apart. It is, Father, our passion that You might be glorified. [It's been asked] so many times, and we ask the question again: Since Jesus, what might be done through a simple, yielded vessel who would do only Your will, and another, and another, that You might be all in all? In our ease, our comfort, we hear the weeping, the screams, and the torment of the Coliseum. I can hear every drop in the damp, cold, Mamertine prison; the mocking of the crowds: "Save thyself!" In that we glory and boast, Father; make us one of them in Jesus' name.

Father, we ask you for those who would say, "Send me." We can't all go, but give us all the heart to go, Father. Make us one in the pursuit of that goal. Make us one in every example we are to the young people around us. In every word of counsel we give them, make us one, that, should we be transported back or one transported forward [in time], it would still be one church, one Spirit, one Lord, one baptism. Thank You, Father.

[Someone in the congregation is praying and crying out to God.] Hallelujah. Just begin to worship the Lord. Let the Lord speak to you. Let the Lord fill you with His Spirit at this moment. Hallelujah! There are some eternal things happening right now in lives. There are young people who are being separated to the gospel right now in the name of Jesus. You've been afraid of it for years; you've run from it, and now it's here; it's that time; it's decision time. Some of you parents need to be set free tonight from the fear, the bondage, of your generation. As the Lord spoke to you tonight, just have ears to hear. I tried three times to get back to what I had prepared for tonight, but we realize that God had a Word for a few folks here; so, whatever was spoken to you, have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. Don't take it lightly; you didn't hear from a man. There are some great things being prepared for us. I believe that, and I encourage you to be sensitive; be open. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! He's not through yet. Just begin to worship; just take some time and pray. There's still something to be done here right now. I don't know who He's speaking to; just be obedient. Let the Spirit of God minister His grace to you right now. If the Lord's speaking to you--There are people here in our midst who need healing. If you feel God is speaking to you, go; lay hands on somebody if God's telling you, if you're being prompted. Whatever the Spirit of the Lord is instructing you to do, you be obedient. "...The Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him" (Acts 5:32). Hallelujah! Oh, glory to God!

We thank You, Father, for Your goodness. Glory to God! We thank You, Father, for Your great mercies. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to God; thank You, Jesus.

Let's all stand. Those of you who feel you have to go, you're dismissed. Others might want to come and pray and seek God; others might be led to minister. If you have to go, go in peace. Those of you who would like to come forward, you come forward. Find a place to pray. Do whatever the Spirit of God is leading you to do at this moment.

Father, just be glorified in our midst, we ask in Jesus' name, amen.

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